Registration Categories

The UKBHC differentiates categories of registration relating to the level of experience of the applicant and their fitness to practice.

Full Registration:

Full registration is intended for chaplains working at Agenda for Change Band 6 and above, and who have developed their competence through extended supervised practice and training to the level of an autonomous practitioner, i.e. responsible for a wide ranging/ complex caseload of patients/clients. It is possible for a chaplain who meets the criteria for full registration to register even though their current post may be at Agenda for Change Band 5.

Provisional or Student Registration:

Provisional or Student registration is intended for chaplains in their first appointment who have developed the competence of a practitioner responsible for a routine caseload of patients/clients or for students undertaking a programme of academic study such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy. It is expected that chaplains with provisional or student registration will go on to apply for full registration once they have fulfilled the requirements for supervised practice and the development of their knowledge and skills as a healthcare chaplain.

Registered with conditions

Conditions may be appropriate where there is evidence of incompetence or significant shortcomings in practice but where the Professional Conduct panel can be satisfied that there is potential for the chaplain to respond positively to training and supervision. The purpose is to enable the chaplain to remedy any deficiencies in his or her practice whilst in the meantime protecting patients from harm. The chaplain will be subject to a future review hearing which will determine whether the objectives of any conditions have been achieved. Any conditions should be appropriate, proportionate, workable and measurable.

Suspended

Suspension for a defined period is likely to be appropriate: (1) for misconduct that is serious, but not so serious as to justify removal from the register (for example where there may have been acknowledgement of fault and where the panel is satisfied that the behaviour or incident is unlikely to be repeated); (2) in a case of deficient performance in which the chaplain poses a risk of harm to patients but where there is evidence that he or she has gained insight into their deficiencies and has the potential to be rehabilitated if prepared to undergo a programme of education and training. During the period of suspension the chaplain should not practise as an autonomous practitioner and should not perform on-call duties. [the GMC does not permit doctors to practice during suspension but allows contact with patients under supervision of a full registered practitioner] . The chaplain will be subject to a future review hearing which will determine whether the objectives of the suspension have been achieved.

Removed

A chaplain may be removed from the register to protect patients and the wider public interests. Cases of serious misconduct may lead to removal and include sexual misconduct, dishonesty, a serious failure to act in the patient’s best interest, and a serious failure to meet standards of professional performance. A conviction or caution in the British justice system for a criminal offence, or a conviction elsewhere for an offence which, if committed in England and Wales, would constitute a criminal offence may also be grounds for removal.

Not Registered

A chaplain who cannot meet the criteria for registration or provides insufficient information or evidence to meet the criteria cannot be registered.